With Her

Summary:
Quil and Claire are married. When Claire becomes pregnant, what new difficulties will they face? In the series For Her. Sequel to Protect Her, Love Her, Hold Her, Keep Her, and From Her. In that order... I think.

Notes:
Well, read the others first. I don't own this. By the way, sorry for the wait, but you took FOREVER with the reviews. thank pinkpoop/ alreadyinarithmancy and equuslover22 that this is posted at all. Love you guys!

8. Chapter 8

“Hi, Emily. Hi, Sam, and Leah, and Embry, and Jake, and Alia, and Jared, and Kim, and little Leah, and…”

They all laughed at Claire’s joking. The room was crammed with people, so tightly we could scarcely all sit down. Little Leah runs up to Claire. “Your belly’s big,” she said, smiling so beautifully I couldn’t muster any anger at her. Claire grinned.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” I knew what Emily was talking about, what she and Claire had in common. Us. The wolves, the men, who would do anything for them.

“Yeah. Although the angst can be overwhelming.”

Emily’s hand went automatically to the scars on her face. Sam winced. “Sure.”

“I came here first for a reason, Emily. I… I wanted to wish you a Happy Mother’s Day. You really have been a mom to me. Thanks.”

“Oh, Claire.” Emily embraced her. “I just did what anyone would, what I hope someone would do for my Leah if something happened to us.”

Leah- the adult Leah- doesn’t speak. Her face was set in a slightly sour expression, but without the unpleasantness I remember. She just looked like she was in pain.

“What’d Quil get you for Mother’s Day? I see you’ll be celebrating it soon.” This is Embry, and he winked across the table at me. He was still sixteen. He hadn’t changed at all, and I was surprised to find he was a child to me now.

“A house.”

Everyone laughed.

“We’re moving back here,” I added.

“Really? How wonderful. The guys really missed you, and so did we,” Alia smiles. What a nice girl. She’s so good for Jake, especially after the whole leech-loving Bella thing.

The fixing in their relationship went two ways, but that’s another story.

We sat around the table. Emily brought out the familiar delicious food. We pack boys helped ourselves to generous portions, and all the girls laughed. “Oh, boys,” Kim muttered. “Jared, you’re going to get fat.”

“Never,” he smiled. We all giggled. It was all we could do to stay away from malnutrition. Obesity isn’t really a health risk among the werewolf population.

I took the first bite of the rice. It was delicious, so buttery and tender… I’ve missed Emily’s cooking. “Great food, Em.”

“Thanks.”

Everyone sounded their agreement. Claire was just reaching for the peas when the strangest expression crossed her face.

“What’s wrong?” I demanded instantly.

“I feel… wrong.”

“What hurts?”

“Nothing… and it feels like I should, I…” Claire crossed her hand over her stomach. Her eyes followed the hand. There was a second’s pause until she realized what she saw, as I didn’t. When she looked down, she screamed.